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Catherine the Great is Born
Catherine the Great was born Sophia Augusta Frederica on April 21,1729 in Stettin, Germany. She was the daughter of Christian Augustus, the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and his wife Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Sophia was the eldest of two children. Her younger brother Wilhelm was favored by her mother. (Massie 28-30) (Jaskievicz 1) -
The Treaty of Seville
The Treaty of Seville is signed on November 9,1729. This treaty marks the end of a two year war between Spain and an Anglo-Saxon alliance. It opened the way for the Treaty of Vienna and creating an alliance with Austria. (historyorb.com) -
Earthquake in Beijing
Beijing, China is shaken by an earthquake on November 30, 1731. An estimate of about 100,000 were kiilled. The earthquake was felt throughout China. (historyorb.com) -
Sophia Travels to Berlin
Sophia, her mother, and her father travel to Berlin to visit Kiing Frederick II of Prussia. Sophia sat at the King's table beside the King himself.Frederick described Sophia saying, "The little princess of Zerbst combines the gaiety and spontaneity natural to her age with intelligence and wit surprising in one so young." Both Sophia and Frederick II would one day be titled with as "the Great". Sophia's marriage would tie Prussia and Russia with each other. (Massie 55-56) -
Sophia Travels to Russia
After visiting with King Frederick II in Berlin, Sophia, her mother, and a small entourage travel to Russia. Sophia and her father say goodbye. This will be the last time that Sophia and her father see each other again. (Massie 57) -
Sophia Marries the Grand Duke Peter
Sophia was chosen by Empress Elizabeth to marry the Grand Duke Peter,the future Peter III.Their marriage was a disaaster. Peter was mentally unstable and his favorite pass time was playing with toy soldiers. Sophia saw his weakness as a chance for power. Her name was changed to Catherine,she was converted to the Russian Orthodox faith,and taught herself the Russian language in order to make herself more like the Russians that she hoped to rule.(McDougal Littel 562) and (Massie 148-150) -
Benjamin Franklin Invents the Lightning Rod
Benjamin Franklin conducted an experiment in order to prove that lightning was a form of electricity. He tied a metal key to a kite and flew the kite in a thunder storm. He then invented the lightning rod which appeared on buildings all over the world and earned him fame in England. The lightning rod attracted the lightning so that the electricity traveled through an attached wire and into the ground preventing houses from being hit by the lightning and catching fire. (historyorb.com) -
The French and Indian War Begins
The French and Native Americans of North America begin fighting against the British. This war lasts until 1763 when Britain wins. In Europe the war was known as the Seven Years War.Spain joined in the fight siding with the French in 1762. This war caused a great debt for England and anger from the colonists when they were not allowed to settle farther west. (Zeman 18) -
Catherine Has a Son
Catherine gives birth to the heir of the empire on September 20,1754. Her son was named Paul I. From birth Empress Elizabeth essentially kidnapped the child and raised Paul as her own. Paul can either be Peter III's son or Sergei Saltykov's. Many believe that either of them could be the father. However Paul had similar mental disabilities to Peter III. (Massie 264-265) -
Catherine Becomes Empress of Russia
Catherine rallied the Russian troops and sent a group of men who were loyal to her to arrest Peter and abtain his abdication. He was put in prison allowed to keep his dog and his toys. Days later he died having been murdered by one of the men who arrested him. Catherine declared herself Catherine II Empress of Russia.(Massie 403-433) -
Catherine's Coronation
Catherine's coronation took place in the Moscow Kremlin where every tsar and empress had been crowned.The ceremony lasted four hours. Catherine's crown was nine pounds crusted with a cross made of diamonds on top of a 389-carat ruby. There were 44 diamonds surrounded by smaller diamonds with 38 rose pearls on either side of the central arch. Catherine crowned herself. She accepted the congratulations of the nobles and gave gifts and honors in order to win the people over. (Massie 446-449) -
Catherine Expands Russian Rule
By the end of her rule in 1796, Catherine had expanded Russian lands enormously. In 1772 Russia, Prussia, and Austria took a piece of Poland. Again in 1793 and 1795 the three countries took more of Poland until Poland disappeared from the map of Europe. Catherine the Great had also accomplished what Peter the Great had attempted.Her armies finally won against the Ottoman Turks and gained control of the northern shore of the Black Sea and access to send ships through straits.(McDougal Littel 562) -
Sculpture of Peter the Great is Unveiled
Catherine the Great had ordered a statue of Peter the Great to be built. Twelve years later it was finally revealed with Peter immortalized in bronze. The words " To Peter the First, from Catherine the Second" are carved into both sides of the statue's base. One side is in Latin and the other is in Russian. This was what Catherine had been attempting to do; to be identified with Peter the Great. (Massie 814-815) -
Moons of Uranus Discovered
On January 11,1787 William Herschel discovered two moons of Uranus. These two moons are the largest and second largest moons of Uranus. The first largest was named Titania after the queen of fairies and the second largest was named Oberon after the king of fairies. Both names come from the famous play "A Midsummers Night Dream". (historyorb.com) -
Copenhagen Fire
On June 6,1795 a fire destroys one third of Copenhagen, Denmark. The fire did not go out until the following day at around 4 P.M.. Over 18,000 people were injured, destroyed over 940 houses and left about 6000 people homeless. The fire destroyed almost all of the houses from before the 18th century that had not been destroyed by the Copenhagen fire of 1728. (historyorb.com) -
Catherine the Great Dies
On November 6, 1796 Catherine the Great passes away at 9:45 P.M.. The day before she had gone to her chamber to be alone. When her attendants found her she was unconcious and had suffered a stroke. She never regained conciousness before she died. Catherine was not able to disinherit her son Paul and rename her grandson Alexander as the heir to the throne as she had planned to do. (Massie 871-874)
